A woman escaped from her attacker after her dog fought back.
Now police are trying to trace the man and have issued a description of him.
The victim, a woman in her 20s, was walking her dog on Strensall Common between 2.30pm and 3.15pm on Sunday (February 26).
As she walked along a path next to the golf course, approximately 15 minutes’ walk from the car park, a man called out to her. Concerned by this, she turned to walk back the way she had come.
Dog bites back
In response to this, the woman’s dog bit the man on his leg.
He then kicked the dog in her chest, leaving a dirty boot mark and winding it.
The man shouted at the woman and the dog bit him on his leg again. This made the man let go of the woman’s skin and tend to his leg, allowing his victim and her dog to escape and get back to her car.
Did you see anything?
Even if they did not see the incident itself, they could still have important information.
If you were on Strensall Common between 2pm and 3.30pm, officers would like you to contact them.
A photo of the dog has been issued to help jog people’s memories.
They also want to hear from anyone who can help identify the man, who smelled of urine and spoke with a Yorkshire accent.
Have you seen him?
The suspect is…
| white | |
| fat | |
| with a chubby face | |
| aged in his 50s | |
| with dark, greying facial hair – longer than stubble but not a beard |
He was wearing
| a dirty, orange, zip-up raincoat | |
| and dirty, dark green water-proof trousers with zips at the knees so they could be worn as shorts | |
| dark coloured boots |
Anyone who was in the area at the time, or can help identify the man is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police – details below.
How to help the police
| Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Elle Smith | |
| Or call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 |
| Email PC Smith here | |
| Quote reference number 12170033337 |